Pages

Friday, April 29, 2016

Rhythm in Our Home :: A Time for Oats

Friday ~ Oat Porridge for Breakfast

The rhythm of life pulses around us in all of nature.

We experience it it when we look up at the sky and see the constellations of stars return to the same place they were in last year at this time, and the year before and the year before too. We're in the season of the constellation of Taurus the bull right now.

As children, we're reminded of the celestial world with this nursery rhyme:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are.

When the blazing sun is gone

When he nothing shines upon.

Then you show your little light

Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are.

As humans, we are distinct from plants and animals in that we're able to reflect on rhythm and the patterns of nature and from that bring form to our lives, with rhythmic patterns of living.

With the establishment of healthy home rhythms, we bring meaningful and healthy form to our lives, on a daily, weekly, seasonal and yearly basis. We return to the rhythm of day and night, morning and evening, the rhythm of seven days, four seasons and one year.

The book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, from the time of Solomon, that's around 970-930 BC, reflects on rhythm. That's from three thousand years ago. Folk singer Pete Seger made it popular this with this song from 1954, it still gives me the shivers. As a sing along here with five special extra verses he wrote for his children.

To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turnAnd a time for every purpose under heavenA time for work a time for playA time for night a time for dayA time to sleep a time to wakeA time for candles on the cakeA time to dress a time to eatA time to sit and rest your feetA time to teach a time to learnA time for all to take their turnA time to cry and make a fussA time to leave and catch the busA time for quiet a time for talkA time to run a time to walkA time to get a time to giveA time to remember a time to forgiveA time to hug a time to kissA time to close your eyes and wishA time for dirt a time for soapA time for tears a time for hopeA time for fall a time for springA time to hear the robins singTo Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time to every purpose, under HeavenA time to be born, a time to dieA time to plant, a time to reapA time to kill, a time to healA time to laugh, a time to weepTo Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time for every purpose, under HeavenA time to build up, a time to break downA time to dance, a time to mournA time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones togetherTo Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time to every purpose, under Heaven A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing To Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time for every purpose, under Heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time of love, a time of hate A time for peace, I swear it's not too late To Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time for every purpose, under Heaven To Everything turn, turn, turnThere is a season turn, turn, turnAnd a time for every purpose, under Heaven

When my children were little, I began incorporating these rhythmic turns with seasonal food and with seven - the seven days of the week, with meals, activities and tasks of caring for the home. We have a breakfast rhythm in which the same foods appear on the breakfast table on the same day of the week, each week. A weekly rhythm. Before that I ate oats here and there, with no regularity.

"Women have to eat oats or they'll dry up."

I read those words somewhere in a childbirth book during my midwifery days, and it has stayed with me. It's easy to like oats, and I'm glad to know they are full of health benefits.

Friday is the day for oat porridge at breakfast in my home. I serve the oats with cinnamon, maple syrup and fruit. Often with nuts on the side.

This oat day is a big day for me, as I've been avoiding grains for six months now, since I became aware of my sensitivity to gluten. This week I took the plunge after finding organic certified gluten free oats. It's like visiting an old friend.

Celebrating the goodness of oat porridge today: the chewiness, the warmth, the good feeling in the tummy, the long lasting energy, all the benefits they provide!

Porridge has been a favorite of mine since I was small - it was the only thing my dad knew how to make, and he only made it on Sunday mornings if we let him sleep in undisturbed (he worked 80 hour weeks). I still feel comfort when I eat it.Love the cover image for the blog, by the way!

:: February eCourse ::

:: February Curriculum Guide ::

:: magazine ::

:: welcome ::

Striving to embrace the sacred in the everyday and protect the wonder of childhood with slow and simple living. I provide support for parents, teachers and child caregivers with workshops, book groups and consultations as well as my blog + program: Celebrate the Rhythm of Life Living Curriculum that includes a Monthly Guide + eCourse each month as well as plenty of enthusiastic daily, weekly and seasonal support for celebrating the rhythm of life! I'm editor over at the Wonder of Childhood online magazine. On sabbatical from tending The Children's Garden, a nursery program for young children and their families. I am a Simplicity Parenting Coach. I offer consultation for Waldorf homeschooling and parenting issues. I've served on the Board of Directors of LifeWays North America as well as WECAN's Birth to Three Task Force. I work out of anthroposophy. Some of the hats worn in this life include: Mom, Midwife, Childbirth Educator, Homemaker, Homeschooler, Parent Child Group Leader, Kindergarten Teacher, Nursery Caregiver.

:: follow by email ::

:: what we're reading ::

affiliate note

I participate in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. Each book that I link is one that has touched, inspired or nourished me or is a family favorite.

.

.

Please don't lift content or images from my blog. If you are inspired by what I share, please link back to the pages with clear credit to what inspired you. All content and images are copyright Celebrate the Rhythm of Life 2009-2018.